Dockers step up

BURNIE is poised to turn to one of two inexperienced ruckmen for its season-opener this Saturday night against North Launceston as it attempts to fill the shortages left in its big-man department.

The departure of Jason Laycock's second fiddle, Tyrone Morrison, back to Smithton in the preseason has Dockers officials set to name John Holland or Josh Handley for their State League senior debut.

The pair are among six fresh faces whom the club may unveil for this weekend's first round, according to Burnie co-coach Luke Shackleton.

``There's a very real possibility that one of [Holland or Handley] will slip into that back-up ruckman role,'' Shackleton said.

``It was a bit of talking point over the summer about our lack of height and getting that one extra tall on our list.

``But we're pretty happy with our options now and we'll make do the best we can.''

Off-season recruits Chris McDonald (Penguin) and Steven Flint (Latrobe) are likely to make their first appearance in purple and white, while two former Dockers, 2012 premiership player Kade Brakey and Brodie Knight, are also in the mix after returning to the club in the past month.

``We're yet to have our final selection, but we're going to inject some young players into our team,'' Shackleton said.

``We've lacked a bit of leg speed in the past and the team isn't getting any younger, so it's a good time to do it.

``I definitely say we'll have five or six new faces, and we're hoping guys like Kyle Harman and Jimmy Dowling, players who played a few games last year, play a lot of games this year.''

Shackleton said the Northern Bombers would be a tricky first-up opponent for Burnie, which lost 10 players at the end of last year.

``By all reports they're flying on the track and I think they're going to be a massive improver this season,'' he said.